Vanessa Williams

A multi-faceted performer possessing both stunning looks and immense talent, Vanessa Williams found success in nearly every arm of the entertainment industry. Overcoming scandal and the loss of the Mi...
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Celebrity daters Annalynne Mccord and Rick Fox have found love again - with each other. The 90210 actress and former Los Angeles Lakers star Fox were spotted together at a pre-Super Bowl event in Scottsdale, Arizona on Thursday night (29Jan15) and she was overheard calling the retired sportsman her "boyfriend".
A fellow guest says, "They were together for the evening and they were really cute, holding hands."
Fox was married to actress/singer Vanessa Williams from 1999 to 2004 and dated actress Eliza Dushku until last year (14), while McCord's exes include her 90210 co-star Kellan Lutz and Dominic Purcell.

Vanessa Hudgens and Julianne Hough are set to show off their vocal skills in a planned live TV production of Grease.
The High School Musical star will embrace her inner bad girl to play Rizzo, previously portrayed onscreen by Stockard Channing, while Footloose actress Hough has been cast as Sandy, the character made famous in the 1978 movie musical by Olivia Newton-John.
Further casting details have yet to be announced.
Grease: Live is due to air on America's Fox network in January, 2016.
The project will be the latest musical to air live in the U.S. after Allison Williams and Christopher Walken tackled Peter Pan Live! last month (Dec14) and Carrie Underwood starred in The Sound of Music Live! in 2013.
Hudgens is currently putting her vocals to the test in new stage show Gigi, which is set to hit the Broadway stage for previews in March (15).

Singer/actress Vanessa Williams refuses to cut back on sweets and treats during the festive season because it's the only time of the year she gets to cook up her family favourites. The former Miss America is spending the holidays at home with all three of her adult children, and she has been catering to all of their cravings.
She tells People magazine, "Everyone has their favourites. My daughter Jillian’s is lemon squares. I gotta make those for her. One is cornbread, so I have to make sure we have cornbread. My son loves crepes.
"It all depends on what they want when they want it. Come holidays, I'm doing a lot of fixing favourites for everybody in the family."
The Save the Best For Last singer continues, "I actually miss the hustle and bustle (of having a full house). But come holidays, they’re all home and I’ll be cooking brunch and dinner and snacks and goodies."
And Williams isn't afraid to tuck into the goodies herself.
She says, "I usually give in (to indulgence) and then I just do the work come January.
"You go to the parties and they’re serving cocktails, and then you have great dinners and you’re drinking wine, and the desserts and cookies are all available. It’s hard to not be tempted. But I just kind of succumb and then just do the work in January."

"I'll definitely be using them as party favours." Actress/singer Vanessa Williams, a spokesperson for M&Ms chocolates, is planning to turn her upcoming wedding to her new fiance Jim Skrip into a sweet affair by gifting guests with personalised candies. The former Ugly Betty star, who announced her engagement in September (14), will wed in the summer (15).

Getty Images/Bruce Glikas
Actress/singer Vanessa Williams is set to wed for the third time.
The former Miss America, 51, announced the news of her engagement to New York native Jim Skrip during a recent pre-taped appearance on The Queen Latifah Show. Host Queen Latifah was interviewing Williams and her The Trip to Bountiful stage co-stars Cicely Tyson and Blair Underwood when she made a comment about the actress' new diamond, joking, "Vanessa, I have been trying to have a conversation with you ladies and gents, but I am blinded by the light coming from that bling ring on your finger." Williams replied, "Oh sorry, darling. I got engaged. I have had a lot of good things happen... I turned 50 when we were in rehearsal on Broadway, I just got engaged a couple of weeks ago. It has been a lot of blessings."
The interview is due to air in America on Tuesday (30Sep14). Williams has been keeping details of her romance with Skrip under wraps, but she spoke briefly about the relationship in February (14), when she told Philly.com, "He's a guy I met a year-and-a-half ago when I was on vacation with my daughter in Egypt. You go across the world to find somebody who's six hours away. "He was in real estate and, back in the day, he was an accountant."
The star was previously married to her manager Ramon Hervey II, the father of her children Melanie, Jillian and Devin, for 10 years from 1987, while she wed basketball player Rick Fox in 1999. The couple, parents to daughter Sasha, divorced in 2004.

Celebrities including Whoopi Goldberg, Johnny Depp and Hugh Jackman have paid tribute to veteran comedienne Joan Rivers following her death on Thursday (04Sep14). The legendary funnywoman, 81, died at New York's Mount Sinai Hospital after she was removed from life support following a cardiac and respiratory arrest on 28 August (14).
Her daughter Melissa announced that her mum passed away just after 1pm local time, and celebrities have been paying tribute to Rivers ever since.
Fellow comedienne and longtime pal Whoopi Goldberg took to Twitter.com to share her condolences, and wrote, "My friend Joan Rivers has passed away once again to quote Billy Crystal... There are no words. Bon Voyage Joan."
News of Rivers' death comes weeks after Goldberg also paid tribute to another close friend, Robin Williams, who died last month (Aug14).
Australian actor Jackman lauded Rivers' comedic presence and wrote, "We lost one of the true originals today. Joan Rivers. A force. You will be missed," while Depp called her "An Amazing Individual", and Mel Brooks wrote, "Joan Rivers never played it safe. She was the bravest of them all. Still at the top at the end. She will be sorely missed."
Other tributes from Zoe Saldana and British comedian Ricky Gervais hit Twitter, and rocker Ozzy Osbourne thanked the late comic for being kind to his daughter Kelly - Rivers' co-host on TV show Fashion Police. He wrote, "Not only was Joan a comic genius, she was an amazing woman. Thank you for always having Kelly’s back. You will always be a legend. RIP."
Celebrities also brought levity to the tragedy of her death, recalling catty remarks Rivers had made about them on awards show red carpets. Actress Anna Kendrick said, "Being publicly told that my dress is hideous will never feel quite as awesome. You will be truly missed", singer Demi Lovato added, "RIP Joan Rivers... You made fun of my boobies just last week and it was an HONOR," and pop star Katy Perry joked, "What's the point of wearing all these dumb costumes if Joan's not here to rip them apart? RIP Joan Rivers. You are a one of a one."
Former Charmed star Rose McGowan recalled that "Joan once said I looked like a whore," and Evan Rachel Wood shared a similar sentiment, and remembered, "She once said I looked like I needed a trip to the VD (venereal disease) clinic..." before adding, "The day I was ridiculed by Joan Rivers for the way I looked was the day I felt like i made it in Hollywood."
Girls star and creator Lena Dunham even poked fun at Rivers' self-depricating extensive plastic surgery, and quipped, "I told (comedian Marc) Maron I'd have a zinger when Joan died. But I didn't think she ever would. She felt eternal, and anyway, zingers are her territory. That being said, Joan is gone but a piece of her lives on: her nose, because it's made of polyurethane."
A plethora of comedians also shared their praise for Rivers, including Kathy Griffin, Roseanne Barr, Ellen DeGeneres, Sarah Silverman, Chris Rock, Cedric the Entertainer, Wanda Sykes, Arsenio Hall, Tim Allen and Kevin Hart, as well as celebrities like Sarah Jessica Parker, Bette Midler, Boy George, Samuel L. Jackson, Nancy Sinatra, La Toya Jackson, Martha Stewart, Naomi Campbell, Brad Paisley, Alec Baldwin, Josh Groban, Maria Shriver, Simon Pegg, William Shatner, Ariana Grande, Vanessa Williams, Julianne Moore and John Stamos.

WENN/Adriana M. Barraza
Actress/singer Vanessa Williams is facing a hefty bill from U.S. authorities amid allegations she owes $370,000 (£217,647) in unpaid taxes.
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) officials issued the lien to the Ugly Betty beauty earlier this month (Aug14) in relation to an address mix-up on the star's 2011 tax return. The documents were filed under her accountants' Manhattan address, even though she lives miles away, in the New York hamlet of Chappaqua, reports the New York Daily News.
Williams is the latest celebrity to be targeted by IRS bosses - singers Lionel Richie, Mary J. Blige and Courtney Love, actor Michael Madsen and rapper Flo Rida are among the more recent stars hit by the tax authorities.

Getty Images/Jason LaVeris
If there’s something strange with your comedy sequel, and things don’t look good, who you gonna call? Well, if the movie in question is Ghostbusters 3, you’re gonna call Paul Feig and hope that he can bring his golden touch to the troubled threequel. According to THR, the The Heat director is in talks to helm the film, which has been looking for someone to fill the opening left by Ivan Reitman, who left the project following Harold Ramis’ death in March. In addition to the new direction, Ghostbuster 3 will also be getting a makeover, and will reportedly center on an all-female team of parapsychologists.
Though the news has unsurprisingly been met with resistance from some fans who are reluctant to let go of the male characters they’re comfortable with, the general response from fans and critics has been positive with many looking forward to seeing the franchise get a breath of fresh air. And while it will likely be difficult seeing new faces in the ghostbusters’ jumpsuits – after all, who could possibly replace Bill Murray? – it shouldn’t be hard to find plenty of talented funny ladies who would be up for the challenge, and perfect for the roles. In case Feig is looking for a few casting suggestions, we’ve matched some of the best comedic actresses currently working with the original character archetypes to give him a sense of who would be perfect for Ghostbusters 3. You know, after Melissa McCarthy has been cast.
For the Peter Venkman Character: As the perpetually bored, slightly mischevious Gina Linetti on Brooklyn Nine Nine, Chelsea Peretti has proved that she has the right wit and attitude to take on Murray’s most famous role, along with just enough sweetness to match his heart of gold. Likewise, Jessica Williams has had the perfect showcase for her cynical, sarcastic side on The Daily Show, which would give the character the right amount of edge. And while Kaitlin Olson’s most famous character is better known for her jaded, sarcastic attitude and biting insults, the actress herself is equally capable of handling light-hearted moments, and she could use a breakout film role; as could Aisha Tyler, whose intelligent, dry wit and warm personality would make her an ideal team leader. Vote below, and read on to see who should play the Ray, the Egon, the Leon, and the Winston.
For the Ray Spatz Character: Though Kristen Schaal might be best-known for raunchy, shocking stand up persona, one only needs to watch a few episodes of Gravity Falls or Bob’s Burgers to know that she’s just as hilarious when playing wide-eyed, uninhibited enthusiasm... with an edge. Though they're often obnoxious and in-your-face, Jenny Slate's characters often still have some growing up to do, and her run as Marcel the Shell with Shoes On proves that she's equally adept at being innocent and adorable. Mindy Kaling’s over-the-top, goofy personality would also make her a solid fit for the childlike, excitable character, and if there’s anyone whose carved a niche in Hollywood with naïve, warm-hearted characters, it’s Kaling’s good friend Ellie Kemper, who had turned child-like innocence into an comedy gold. Vote below, and read on to see who should play the Egon, the Leon, and the Winston.
For the Egon Spengler Character: Playing a rigid, focused Egon Spengler-type requires someone who excels at playing the straight-man, and there’s nobody on television who currently does that better than Brooklyn Nine Nine’s Melissa Fumero, whose Amy Santiago is the perfect mix of goofy and Type-A. Broad City’s Abbi Jacobson is also at her most hilarious when she’s attempting to impose some kind of order on things that are beyond her control, and her talent at handling awkward situations is unparalleled. Many of Vanessa Bayer’s best SNL character exhibit a similar tightly-wound, nerdy awkwardness and she’s proven that she can earn laughs with just a few words. Meanwhile, Ana Gasteyer has brought dorky rigidity to new heights on Suburgatory, where she played the competitive perfectionist Shiela Shay. Vote below, and read on to see who should play the Leon and the Winston.
For the Leon Tully Character: Perhaps no actress has turned awkwardness into an art form quite like Miranda Hart, whose nerdy, well-meaning Chummy on Call the Midwife has nothing on the endearingly embarrassing title character in her sitcom Miranda. Likewise, Rachel Dratch has made a career playing a variety of hilarious, uncomfortable weirdoes from the fast-talking, PDA-friendly Denise to the socially-unaware Debbie Downer. But if there’s any actress who could be considered the female counterpart to Rick Moranis, it’s probably Amy Sedaris, whose iconic Jerri Blank is basically a warped version of the awkward, socially-inept but well-meaning nerds that Moranis has specialized in. Vote below, and read on to see who should play the Winston.
For the Winston Zeddemore Character: Though Rosa Diaz is a bit more violent and monotone than the straight-talking voice of reason that is Winston Zeddemore, Stephanie Beatriz has nonetheless proved herself talented at dishing out tough love to the idiots she surrounds herself with, as well as willing to go along with just about anything if there’s something in it for her. Shirley Bennet’s advice-giving, mothering would make Yvette Nicole Brown an excellent choice for the role as well, along with her talent for cutting through nonsense and ability to turn a sermon into a comedic showcase. Gina Torres has similarly specialized in tough, skeptical characters, and she’s especially good at imbuing them all with a slightly goofy sense of humor and warm heart, and though Nasim Pedrad has played plenty of weirdoes, she’s adept finding the funniest way to shake some sense into people – who’s a better voice of reason on SNL than her Arianna Huffington?
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Gillian Anderson has wowed critics with her turn as Blanche DuBois in a London stage revival of A Streetcar Named Desire. The X-Files actress stars as the troubled Southern belle in the revered Tennessee Williams play, which opened on Monday (28Jul14) at London's Young Vic Theatre.
British reviewers praised the performances of Anderson and her co-stars Ben Foster and Vanessa Kirby, but there were reservations over the constantly revolving stage setup.
Charles Spencer from The Daily Telegraph calls the show "an absolute knockout" and adds, "Never have I seen a production of the play that was so raw with emotion, so violent and so deeply upsetting... The performances are superb, Gillian Anderson giving the performance of her career..."
Michael Billington from The Guardian writes, "There's no doubt that Gillian Anderson gives a stellar performance... (she) captures both Blanche's airy pretensions to grandeur and her desolate loneliness."
The Daily Mail's Quentin Letts calls the production "an ingenious take powered by four ace performances, with an A star for X-Files' Anderson".
However, the critics had mixed opinions on the revolving stage, with Billington calling it "distracting" while Stephen Dalton from The Hollywood Reporter branded it "hypnotic".
The production, the fastest-selling in the theatre's history, runs until 19 September (14). It will be broadcast in cinemas worldwide on 16 September (14).

Actress and singer Vanessa Williams had to bury her feelings about a sexual encounter when she was just 10 after learning her uncle had died. The Save The Best For Last singer opened up about how she was molested by a woman in her 2012 memoir You Have No Idea, and she revisited her unwanted sexual awakening during a recent chat with Oprah Winfrey, which aired in America on Tuesday (15Jul14).
The former Miss America was on vacation with a friend's family when an older 18-year-old sister performed oral sex on her.
Williams told Oprah, "She told me to lie down on the floor. She took my (pyjama) bottoms off and she said, 'Be quiet...' She went down on me.
"I had no idea what it was, but I knew it felt good, but (it was) also something that was not supposed to be happening."
Williams confessed she wanted to tell her parents about the encounter upon her return from vacation, but a death in the family kept her silent.
She added, "I saw my dad's face and his face was grey. And I just found out that his brother had died... I never really talked to my dad about it. I kind of suppressed it."

Summary

A multi-faceted performer possessing both stunning looks and immense talent, Vanessa Williams found success in nearly every arm of the entertainment industry. Overcoming scandal and the loss of the Miss America title in 1984, due to a nude pictorial in <i>Playboy</i> magazine, Williams' strength of character, grace and talent helped establish her as a sought-after vocalist and actress. As a Grammy-nominated singer, she released eight albums, selling over four million copies worldwide. As an actress, Williams starred on Broadway, television and in feature films. On stage, she turned in a Tony-nominated performance in "Into the Woods;" on the big screen, she starred in numerous films including "Eraser" (1996), "Soul Food" (1997), "Shaft" (2000) and "Johnson Family Vacation" (2004). With a career that spanned two decades, Williams established herself as a leading talent across the board, proving her staying power by returning to television as Wilhelmina Slater on the hit ABC series "Ugly Betty" (2006-2010). She furthered her stature on the small screen after joining the cast of the long-running hit, "Desperate Housewives" (ABC, 2004- ), once again proving that Williams was capable of translating her talents to just about any medium.

Introduced by Fox's then-girlfriend Tyra Banks; Began dating in September 1998; Married Sept. 26, 1999; Fox filed for divorce in August 2004; Divorce finalized in 2005; Acted together in 2007 on ABC's "Ugly Betty"

Wrote the NBC miniseries "The Odyssey" (1997), starring Williams; No longer together

Milton Williams

Father

Helen Williams

Mother

Chris Williams

Brother

Younger

Education

Name

Syracuse University

Syracuse University

Notes

About the Miss America pageant, Williams has said: "Maybe it was to my advantage that I wasn't as hungry as those other girls, the ones who were bred to do this. I was certainly one of those people who said it was a joke. I think of myself as a feminist and pretty liberal, and there are aspects [of the pageant] that are pretty exploitative. You realize it once you're on the circuit." – quoted in Entertainment Weekly, April 24, 1992

She was not to be confused with the actress Vanessa Williams from "Candyman" (1992) and "Melrose Place" (Fox).

In the 2012 memoir Williams co-wrote with her mother Helen, titled You Have No Idea, the actress revealed she was molested at the age of 10 by an 18-year-old daughter of a family friend. Williams also opened up in the book about receiving death threats after winning the Miss America crown.